Barn-door latch



' May 22, 1928. 1,670,908

7 D. SMITH BARN DOOR LATCH Filed Nov. 25, 1927 Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES DAVID SMITH, 0F AUBURN, -NEBBAS KA.

BARN-noon LATCH.

Application filed November 23, 1927. Serial No. 235,159.

This invention relates to door latches, and more particularly to a latchadapted for barns. I

It has as its principal object the production of a latch that may beused with equal facility oneither right or left hand doors, may beoperated from either side of the door, and which offers no projectionsto catch and tear the harness of an animal'passing through the door.

Another object is to provide a simple and eflicient latch that can bemanufactured cheaply.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists ofcertain novel constructions and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of'my latch in itsrelativeposition on a doorand jamb shown by the dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a top View of the latch;

Figure 3 is a side view of the catch;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank for forming the latch.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a U-shaped latch 1 formed of anelongated blank 2 of any suitable material, such as sheet or strapmetal, which 'is bent backward at right angles at the spaced points 3leaving a frontal portion or face 4 of a width substantially equal tothe thickness of the door A. The ends 5 vided with holes 6 for pivotingand between the points 7 and 8 at each end of the blank is drawn outwardin an arc'uate shape to form the handles 9. The frontal portion or face4 has a square notch 10 cut outof its bottom edge at the center. Thisnotch 10 is adapted to releasably engage the shoul der 11 on the catch12. The said catch is a single piece of'suitable material, as metal, p

attach-' having the countersunk holes 13 for ment to the jamb B of thedoor frame and having a slopingfront edge or lip 14. In mounting thelatch 1 on the door A,a' bolt 15 is passed through the holes 6'in theends of the blank are pro- 5 and through the door. This allows theopposite end of the latch 1 to be raised or lowered in a substantiallyvertical direction. Any suitable sto 16 may be placed-under the latch lso that in the locked'position the bottom edge of the latch 1 will restI thereon. Immediately adjacent the notch 10 the said under side orunder edge of the latch 1 is cut out so that from the points 3 at eachside of the notch the bottom will have downwardly sloping edges 17 tothe notch 10. The catch 12 is secured to the amb B by screws 18 passingthrough the catch.

'It is obvious that as the door is shut, the free end of the latch 1will strike the sloping front edgeor lip 14 of thecatch 12, raisingtheflatch and causing the notch 10 to drop over the shoulder 11, thuslocking the door.

\Vhile I have herein described a preferred embodiment of my invention,it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details, withinthe scope ofthe appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. A barn door latch and catch, the latch being formed of a strip ofmetal bent U- shaped and so adapted to be set over the edge of the doorand pivotally mounted thereon by the side portions of the latch, thebight of the latch having a notch cut out at its under edge; the catchbeing adapted to fasten to the door jamb and having a shoulder and lipadapted to engage the said notch of the latch portion.

2. The combination of a U-shaped door latch, the bight portion having"acatchnot-ch cut at its lower edge, the stems thereof being curvedoutwardly to form handles, the extremities of the stems being adaptedfor passing to either side of the door for ivotal engagement therewith;and a catch adapted for positioning upon the door jamb for engaging thesaid latch at the catchnotch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' DAVID SMITH.

